Derbyshire is home to the largest cluster of rail companies in the world – and the glue that holds them together is the Derby and Derbyshire Rail Forum. Robin Johnson looks at its work and the role it has played in ensuring the city's 175-year association with railways is celebrated in style.

IT is with a sense of pride that Derbyshire can proclaim itself as home to the largest concentration of rail companies in the world.

But it could all have been very different had it not been for the part played by the Derby and Derbyshire Rail Forum.

In the early 1990s, the government of the day was pushing ahead with plans to privatise British Rail, setting alarm bells ringing in Derby.

Privatisation meant the breaking up of British Rail and the companies within it. It also meant a significant hiatus in business to the supply industry.

The most significant issue of that time in Derby saw the BREL train-building works (now Bombardier) go without a new train order for 1,064 days.

Other rail companies were suffering similar pressure from the lack of civil and signalling projects on the railway infrastructure.

Derbyshire County Council, Derby City Council, the trade unions and rail businesses recognised the devastating effect the loss of its rail industry would have on the city.

They engaged the support of Derby MPs Margaret Beckett and Bob Laxton and formed a new organisation – the Derby and Derbyshire Rail Forum.

The main objective was the survival of one of Derbyshire's oldest and most respected industries.

The forum would bring together private-sector rail companies to retain rail expertise in the city.

It acted as the glue that would keep all these businesses in Derby.

Colin Walton, the current rail forum chairman, said: "We decided to get together with the local politicians to form a lobbying group for promotion of rail orders.

"It was one voice saying, 'look, rail is important to us and we are very concerned about having no orders and here is the reason why you should be promoting more into the rail sector'.

"It was successful and the orders did eventually come."

Post-privatisation, the forum still had an important job to do.

The focus needed to move from the crisis agenda, which caused its formation, to one of information-provider to its membership and a channel for business opportunities.

The result was a move to create a business-led regional trade association, which is what the forum is today.

Mr Walton, a former UK chairman of Bombardier, said: "It was decided that the crisis post-privatisation could happen again, so let's have some permanency.

"We still needed to promote the rail sector even when times were good. If orders became scarce again, we needed a voice."

The forum began welcoming rail-related businesses and became self-funding through subscriptions and commercial activity.

Today, it is involved in a wide range of activities to benefit its membership. These still include the original activity of government lobbying.

But a greater focus is now placed on providing information and business support for its membership, which today numbers well over a hundred.

These members come from all aspects of the railway industry, including the original founders from local government and the trade unions.

Mr Walton said: "The forum is Derby and Derbyshire-centric. However, the tentacles spread right across the UK.

"There are associate members spread up and down the country. So, we are not a parochial organisation.

"We are now reaping the benefits of this because we now receive visits from secretaries of state and director generals, who come to Derby specifically to see us.

"They meet with our members – companies who they probably wouldn't see in London.

"They meet the smaller companies which helps give them a better idea on how the supply chain is faring."

The claim by DDRF is that this area has the largest cluster of rail companies in the world.

And it is not just the UK market on which Derby's rail industry relies.

The city is home to several firms that operate in the global market.

The rail forum has been working closely with UK Trade and Investment to help local firms break into overseas markets.

Mr Walton said: "Clearly, the first thing you need before considering exporting is to have a solid track record in your own country.

"It gives potential overseas customers a term of reference because the first thing they will ask is what work do you do in the UK?

"If you say 'nothing' then they can quite reasonably reply 'well, if your own country doesn't trust you then why come to us?'.

"Part of our role is to explain to our members what they need to do to be able to export, particularly if they are a small business.

"The bigger companies don't really need that help because they already have an established international presence, but the SMEs play a vital role.

"And we need them to hit above their weight.

"The UKTI at regional level has been particularly helpful. Overseas customers are coming to Derby to find out more and we are going to them, for example, by exhibiting at major international rail shows."

Winning overseas work is important to the UK rail sector because it can help overcome the highs and lows which have dogged the industry since privatisation and the introduction of the rail operating franchise system.

Mr Walton said: "There are peaks and troughs, not just in rolling stock but also signalling.

"We contributed to a study called Planes, Trains, Automobiles that assessed the impact all three sectors have on Derby's economy. It gives the Government something tangible to look at.

"We can go down and speak very emotively about the industry and our members but if you present them with something in black and white then it is more powerful."

Mr Walton believes Derby's rail industry could have been very different if the forum had not been around.

He said: "If it had not existed, I think the rail sector would still be here but fragmented.

"I believe that some of the bigger companies would still be here but they would each be doing their own thing.

"Because of the forum, they share their plans. Some of the smaller rail businesses would not have come into the area and maybe some wouldn't be around today.

"I think the rail industry in this area has got a good future.

"Of course, we can't guarantee we'll get any orders because we have to fight for them fair and square but we can, and will, continue to push for rail investment.